Europe's biggest theme park opens in Turkish capital

Ankapark, in capital Ankara, is also called Wonderland Eurasia and boasts over 1,200 amusement attractions.

Visitors are thrilled as the roller coaster takes a spin at Ankapark, Ankara, Turkey.
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Visitors are thrilled as the roller coaster takes a spin at Ankapark, Ankara, Turkey.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday inaugurated Europe's biggest theme park in capital Ankara.

"Ankapark will have major contributions to our city," President Erdogan said during the opening ceremony of the landmark project, which is also called Wonderland Eurasia.

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Visitors will enjoy the park free of charge until March 31.

He said the project will increase the brand value of Ankara and visitors will enjoy the park free of charge until the evening of March 31.

"Ankapark, with individually designed 1,217 amusement attractions, also hosts the world's second biggest fountain, which can reach 120 metres [around 394 feet] in height," he said.

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A view of Ankapark Wonderland.

"Ankapark is also an environment-friendly project with a 10-megawatt solar energy system, which will meet a certain amount of its electricity need," Erdogan added.

He noted that the project, which cost around 1.4 billion Turkish liras ($255 million), will contribute an annual revenue of around 50 million liras ($9.1 million) to the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.

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The park boasts a five-km rail system and some 6,800 parking spaces.

Around 5 million domestic and foreign tourists are expected to visit Wonderland Eurasia every year.

The park was built by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and covers an area of 1.3 million square metres.

The park boasts more than 2 million species of plants and trees as well as a five-km rail system and some 6,800 parking spaces.

Route 6